Mechanism and process for effecting reverse plating



March 10,, 1 J. LAWSON ET AL MECHANTSM AND PROCESS FOR EFF'EZCTING REVERSE PLATING Original Filed March 3,

1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 6 I nae nio 2 s Jo Kai/Lawson, BoZeri/IILau/Lsmw,

Q2 63 V- by 8%7 I Jlfiy&

March 10, 1931 LAWSON ETYAL 1,796,266

MECHANISM AND PROCESS FOR EFFECTING REVERSE PLATING Original Filed March 3, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I iwvenio F8 Jofinlawso 77/, ROZeWZHTLaZQGOW Patented Mar. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN LAWSON AND ROBERT E. LAWQON, OI PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND, ASBIGNOBB TO HEIPHILL COI'PANY, OF CENTRAL FALLS, RHODE MASSACHUSETTS I8LAND, A CORPORATION 01' MECHANISM AND PROCESS FOR EFFECT ING REVERSE PLATING Miguel application filed Inch 3, 1927, Serial Io. 172,331. Divided and this application filed January 8,

1929. Eerlal No. 380,897.

This application isa division of our copending application Serial No. 172,331, filed March 3, 1927.

This invention relates to mechanism and.

Fig. 2 is a similar view but with the parts positioned for normal plating;

Fig. 3 represents in side elevation seven different positions of a special web holder or sinker and its companion web holder in the same groove, and the adjacent needles in the formation of a reversely plated loop;

Fig. 3a is a side elevation of the upper part of a needle and re resenting the position of the yarns or threa sin efi'ecting reverse plating with that form of special web holder or sinker shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 4 represents in side elevation six dlfferent ositions of a so-called stripe clearer or special instrumentality with its companion regular web holder or sinker in the same groove, and the adjacent needle, in eflecting normal plating, preferably in lengthwise stripes between reverse plating'stripes;

Fig. 4a is a view in side elevation of a needle and showing several positions of the yarns or threads in effecting normal plating and Fig. 5 is a detail representing a modification.

In the United States patent to Robert H. Lawson, No. 1,605,895, dated November 2, 1926, Reissue No. 16,584, dated April 5. 1927, there are disclosed means for eifecting reverse plating by the action of casting ofl mechanism, whereby lengthwise extending stripes may be formed in hosiery or other knitted fabrics. In the United States patent to Robert H. Lawson, No. 1,605,896, dated November 2, 1926, there is disclosed means for efi'ectin reverse plating through the action of casting ofi mechanism, the transverse movements whereof are selectively governed, whereby a great Variety of patterns may be provided.

In the present application means are disclosed constituting improvements on the mechanism shown in both of said patents.

The mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2 hereof is particularly adapted for use in connection with any form of means selectively governing the transverse. movements of the casting off mechanism or of the instrumentalities moving transversely of the needles in efiecting reverse plating.

Referrin first to that form of mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it is to be understood that the same is preferably used with means .selectively governing the transverse movements of the special instrumentalities, such means being preferably one or more disks of the general types shown at 44 and 45 in the said patent to Lawson, No. 1,506,896. It is deemed unnecessary to illustrateherein such disks and their operating means, but reference is made *to that patent for a full disclosure of said disks and their manner of operation in selectively positioning the special instrumentalities for movement transversely of the needles.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the web holder bed ring is indicated at 1, it having radial or transversely extending grooves 2 for receiving the regular web holders indicated at 3 in Fig. 3, and also for receiving the special instrumentalities indicated at 4 in said figures. The sinker cam ring, the top plate whereof has been removed from Figs. 1 and 2, is provided with a series of cams providing diflerent pathways, in the lnner one of which the regular web holders and in the two outer ones of which the special instrumentalities are guided, depending upon whether normal or reverse plating is being effected. The cam construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are identical, it being understood that in Fig. 1 are shown or indicated the position and movements of the regular web holders and special instrumentalities in etfecting reverse plating, whereas in Fig. 2

-are shown or indicated the positions and movements of the parts in effecting normal plating, as well as for clearing the stripe for and during normal plating.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, we provide an outer cam 5 of general segmental form and extending from the vertically movable, in

clined cam 6, which is similar to and is operated in the same manner as the cam edge 72 of the patentto Lawson No. 1,605,896. The purpose of the said cam 6 is to move all the special instrumentalities into the outer path- Walgadially within the segmental cam 5 1s: a

' regular web holders or sinkers 3 ride, it being understood that the special instrumentalities 4 are of greater length than the regular sinkers or web holders 3, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. When the cam 6 is elevated, the special instrumentalities may r1de into the pathway between the cams and 7 The cam 7 may extend in substantlally annular form entirely about the circle of needles excepting for the separate cams shown at 8 and 9 in Figs. 1 and 2. Radially outside of the separate cam 9 is a cam 10 between which and the cam 9 the butts of the special instrumentalities ride. The cam 7 at the end thereof nearest the cam 8 is shaped as indicated at 11 to effect radially outward movement of the regular web holders.

The segmental cam 5 is provided with an mwardly sloping or inwardly extending end part 12, the purpose of which is to move the special instrumentalities radially inward at an earlier point circumferentially considered, or, in other words, at an earlier point in the stitch forming operation, than the regular web holders are moved inward at or near the casting off point.

The purpose of this action-is substantially that described in said Lawson Patent No.

1,605,895, now Reissue No. 16,584. Slightly circumferentially beyond the point where the special instrumentalities are so moved 1nward, that is, to the left thereof viewing Fig.1, the inner edge of the cam 9 is sloped inward as indicated at 13, such slope terminating in the point 14, circumferentially beyond which the edge of the cam 9 slopes again outwardly as indicated at 15. The purpose of the slope 13 up to the point 14 is to force the regular web holders inwardly in the regular stitch forming operation.

Assuming that the inclined cam 6 has been elevated, the disks or other selective mecha- ,ssgiima e nism, one type whereof is shown in the said Lawson Patent No. 1,605,896, move into the pathway between the segmental cams 5 and 7, the buts 16 of those special instrumentalities 4 which are thus selected, the other special instrumentalities 4 remaining in the pathway radially outside of the earn 5. In the con tinued movement of the parts, the said selected special instrumentalities 4 are pro-' jected inward by the inclined od -e12, hereinbefore referred to, and very shortly thereafter the regular web holders or sinkers 3, whose butts 17 ride in the inner pathway radially inside of the cam 7, are also projected inward.

The result is to effect reverse plating by reason of such inward or transverse movement of the special instrumentalities 4.

' In Fig. 3 we have represented seven positions of the special instrumentalities .4 and the regular web holders 3 in efiectin such reverse plating. In said figure, there is represented a black yarn 18 which in normal plating appears at the inner face of the fabric and a white thread 19 which in normal plating appears at the outer fa-ceof the fabric. The greater tension is desirably imparted to the thread 19. The two threads 18, 19 are fed in a plating relation and bear substantially the same relation to each other at their point of introduction as is indicated in Fig. 30 of said Reissue Patent No. 16,584. In the inward movement of the special instrumentalities 4, the upright edge 20 of each special instrumentality participating in reverse plating, engages bothof the threads 18, 19 and presses against and pushes the same during such inward movement. At the same time the adjacent needle 21 isdescending in the formation of the loop and as the greater tension is upon the white thread 19, it moves first into the notch 22 of the special instrumentality 4. The said white thread 19 is permitted to enter said notch 22, since the notch 23 of the regular web holder 3 substantially registers with the notch 22. The thread 18 having less tension thereon than the thread 19, or if desired being free or substantially free from tension, does not enter into the notch 22 in advance of the thread 19, but does follow the same thereinto. The result, however, is to effect reverse plating and therefore to cause the black thread 18 to appear at the outside of the fabric.

It will be observed that each special instrumentality 4 has a forward prolongation 24 whose upper'edge 25 is provided with a hump 26, the inclined edges 27, 28 whereof converge and meet at the point 29. Said hump 26 functions in no way during reverse plating. In 3 we have represented the several positions of the two threads 18, 19 in forming a loop of reverse plating.

In Fig. 4 we have represented six positions of a special instrumentality 4 and a regular tax 1 gage both threads during web holder or sinker 3 in effecting normal the formation by reverse latm of any particular pattern. It will un erstood that all those special instrumentalities 4 which are not in any course participatin in effecting reverse plating on the need e pertaining thereto, have their butts riding in the outer pathway, that is, the pathwa radially outside of the segmental cam 5 o Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to Fig. 4 and assuming that the special instrumentality 4 there shown has its butt 16 in said outer pathway, it will be evident that such special instrumentalities 4 as are in the outer pathway are moved inward in accordance with the formation at the outer edge of the said cam 5. The result of having the said special instrumentalities 4 in the outer pathway is to prevent their upright edges 20 from engaging either thread 18 or 19, and hence such instrumentalities when in said outer pathway cannot participate in effecting reverse plating. T erefore, normal plating results at the needle pertaining thereto, as, for example, at the needle 21 shown in Figs. 4 and 4a.

Inefl'ecting such normal plating, however,

the hump 26 does function and acts in accordance with such function to clear-the stripe or in other words to insure the perfection of and continuance of normal plating following the last waleof reverse plating an until reverse plating again commences upon.

the needle pertaining to such special web instrumentaht 4.

Viewing ig. 4, it will be observed that althoughthe upright edge 20 does not engage either thread 18 or 19, the hump 26 does enthe downward movement of the needle 21 and that the black thread 18 is caused'to slide down the inclined edge 28 while the white thread'19is caused to slide down the inclined edge 27. Thus the two threads 18, 19 are separated. Such separation, while sufiicient for the purpose, is,

however, merely momentary, as in the further inward movement of the special instrumentality 4 (as shown in the fifth position in Fig.

4), both threads are engaged by the sloping edge 28. The result of the action of said hump, however, is to ensure that the black thread 18 goes to the inner face of the fabric, and the white thread 19 which preferably is tensioned, goes to the outer face of the fabric.

It is not necessary in the practice of the invention to differentiate the tension u on the two threads, or to place the threa 19 under tension or greater tension than the thread 18, inasmuch as the hump 26 effects the separation of the two threads in normal plating and ensures not only that the stripe or area of normal plating will be perfect and without any reverse plating, but renders any difiermeans for moving special instrumentalities transversely of the needles in effecting reverse plating, but it is to be understood that said cam means may be those shown in. the parent application hereof, it being unnecessary to illustrate the same in thisapplication, which is more particularly directed to the instrumentalities which are operated upon by the cam and ot er mechanism.

The number of special a-ms employed may,

be varied as desired, and if but a single speand cam moving in the same horizontal plane be employed, all the butts of the special instrumentalities are of the same length. If, however, two or more such special cams are employed, or if the single special cam itself be selected through being caused to operate in two or more horizontal planes by pattern means,the butts of the special instrumentalities will contrast amon themselves according to the number of t c said special cams or according to the horizontal planes of oporation of such single special cams. For example, if there be two special clams one overlying the other, the lower of said special cams will act upon the lower butts and the overlying special cam will act upon the longer butts. In Fig. 5 I have illustrated two cams 48, 51 respectively, and special instrumentalities having two different lengths of butts 16 and 16a to beengaged by said two cams.

Inany such construction the butts of the specia instrumentalities contrast among themselves according to the number of cams employed.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of the invention and the best mode vknown to us for carrying out the process thereof, we desire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they areused in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the sec of the invention being set forth in the fol threads, thereby clearing the normal plating stripe.

2. An instrumentality adapted for use in normal and reverse plating and adapted to be moved in a groove extending in a direction transversely of the needles, said instrumentaL ity functioning in reverse plating to engage both threads, and in the loop forming operation insuring reverse plating and having a formation sufiiciently in advance of the part ing reversal of the'threads and also having a sloping formation substantially in advance of the first mentioned edge and adapted to engage both threads in normal pl ating and so control their positions as to insure normal plating.

' 4. A web holder or like instrumentality adapted to be moved in a groove transversely; of the needles and having a substantially upright edge to engae both threads .during reverse p ating and aving inwardly in advance'of said edge a sloping formation adapted to engageboth threads in normal plating to prevent accidental reverse plating to insure normal plating. v

.5. That process-of effecting striped plating in knitted fabrics consisting in feeding a back thread and face thread to the needles so as to effect .normal plating, moving certain thread en aging instrumentalities transversely to t e needle series at. an abnormally early point in the loop forming operation so as to effect thread engagement in such manner as to cause relative change in the position of the threads, whereby, when thread formation by the needles is effected, reverse platlng is produced at the wales pertaining to said certain thread engaging instrumentalities and in effecting normal plating moving sa1 thread engaglng instrumentalities transversely to the needle series without causing relative change in the position of the two threads, but effecting momentary separation of the two threads to prevent the accidental occurrence of reverse plating when normal plating is desired.

6. A sinker like instrumentality for use in plating adapted for in and out movement between the needles of a knitting machine having an upper nib, and below and in advance thereof a hump-like thread engaging formation acting as a line evener n clearing the normal plating strlpe, said upper nib having directly therebelow a horizontal notch or recess which is in the rear of said hump-like formation.

7. A sinker like instrumentality' adapted for in and out movement between the needles of a knitting machine having an upper nib, and below and in advance t ereof a humplike formation functioning in normal plating momentarily to separate the two threads, thereby clearing the normal plating stripe.

8. A sinker-like instrumentality adapted for sliding movement in a roove between the needles of a circular knltting machine having below the extreme top thereof and substantially in advance thereof, a humpceeding edge, acting as a line evener in clearmg the normal platin stripe.

9. An instrumenta ity adapted to move transversely of and between the needles and having an edge adapted to engage at least one of the threads in reverse plating and cooperating with the adjacent needles in securing'reversal of the threads, and having mwardly'in advance of said ed e an upward projection adapted'to engage th threads in normal plating to prevent accidental reverse plating, i. e. to insure normal plating.

10. A sinker-like instrumentalit adapted for to and fro movement between t e needles of an independent-needle knitting machine, said instrumentality having below the ex- .treme top thereof and substantially in advance thereof, a hump-like formation consisting of an upwardly and rearwardly inclined forward edge and a downwardly and rearwardly i'nc'lined succeeding edge, acting as a line evener in clearing the normal plating stripe.

11. A sinker-like i'nstrumentality adapted A to move transversely of and between the needles and cooperating therewith in the stitch forming operation, and having a formation which in normal plating engages both threads to prevent accidental reverse plating.

,12. A sinker-like instrumentality adapted to move transversely of and between the needles and cooperating therewith in the stitch formin operation and having an upwardly exten ing projection which in normal plating functions to prevent accidental 'reverse plating. v 13. For use in an independent-needle knitting machine, an instrumentality adapted to move transversely of the needle series in the loop forming operation and having a arn engaging reverse'plating edge and also aving a hump, such as 26, to engage and momentarily separate the two threads in normal plating. I

14. For use in an independent-needle knitting machine, an instrumentality adapted to move transversely of the needle series in the loop forming operation and having a hump, such as 26, to engage and momentarily separate the two threads and thereby participating in effecting normal plating.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our .names to this specification.

J OHN LAWSON. ROBERT H. LAWSON. 

